Intervertebral disc reamer

Abstract

An intervertebral disc reamer includes a flexible shaft having a shaft channel, and a reamer head attached to the flexible shaft and movable relative to the flexible shaft. The reamer head has a reamer channel. The shaft channel and the reamer channel are aligned to define a continuous guide wire channel for the disc reamer. The disc reamer addresses the quality of disc removal and endplate preparation, minimizes the trauma of surgery, minimizes blood loss, and markedly reduces surgical time.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An intervertebral disc reamer comprising:
 a flexible shaft having a shaft channel; and 
 a reamer head attached to the flexible shaft by a movable joint connection such that the reamer head is movable relative to the flexible shaft, the reamer head having a reamer channel, wherein the shaft channel and the reamer channel are aligned to define a continuous guide wire channel for the disc reamer, 
 wherein the flexible shaft comprises a plurality of shaft links connectable one to another, and wherein the shaft links have a surface finish that propels disc debris back as the reamer head is advanced. 
 
     
     
       2. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible shaft comprises a one-piece proximal shaft attached to a chain of the shaft links. 
     
     
       3. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein a distal one of the shaft links is coupled with the reamer head, and wherein adjacent shaft links are movable in at least one plane relative to each other. 
     
     
       4. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 3 , wherein the shaft links are shaped as one of spherical, cylindrical and scalloped proximally and distally. 
     
     
       5. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the shaft links is cannulated. 
     
     
       6. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent shaft links are contoured to bias flexibility in at least one predefined plane while protecting the adjacent shaft links from debris. 
     
     
       7. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the reamer head is attached to the flexible shaft via a neck, the neck having a narrow cross-section so as to facilitate flexibility of articulation. 
     
     
       8. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the reamer head is shaped as one of cylindrical, conical and spherical. 
     
     
       9. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 8 , wherein the reamer head has a surface finish as one of roughened, curved into cutting blades, and flexible pins tipped with small metal balls. 
     
     
       10. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 8 , wherein the movable joint connection comprises one of a ball and socket connection and a T-shaped slot or bar coupled with a corresponding T-shaped bar or slot in a distal end of the flexible shaft. 
     
     
       11. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reamer guide sized to fit in the guide wire channel, the reamer guide being formed of a flexible non-deforming construction. 
     
     
       12. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible shaft includes circumferential channels along a length of the flexible shaft. 
     
     
       13. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft links include channels. 
     
     
       14. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the shaft links comprises a leading end facing the reamer head and a trailing end facing an opposite direction, and wherein the leading end is narrower than the trailing end. 
     
     
       15. An intervertebral disc reamer according to  claim 14 , wherein the leading end defines a male connecting part, and wherein the trailing end defines a female receiving part engageable with the male connecting part. 
     
     
       16. An intervertebral disc reamer comprising:
 a flexible shaft formed of a plurality of cannulated shaft links connectable one to another, the cannulated shaft links defining a shaft channel; 
 a neck movably secured to a distal shaft link of the flexible shaft; and 
 a reamer head attached to the flexible shaft via the neck by a movable joint connection such that the reamer head is movable relative to the flexible shaft, the reamer head having a reamer channel, wherein the shaft channel and the reamer channel are aligned to define a continuous guide wire channel for the disc reamer, 
 wherein the cannulated shaft links have a surface finish that propels disc debris back as the reamer head is advanced.